Inspired by the mysterious past of her great-aunt, Fletcher created this enthralling tale of a World War II era "taxi girl." The book is set in Chicago and starts in 1941. Ruby Jacinski is the daughter of an Irish mother, who can no longer work because of terrible arthritis, and a Polish father, who died years before. As a result, 16-year-old Ruby takes on a job at the local meat packing factory.

She has always had a love for dancing and jazz so when Paulie, the guy she likes, suggest she take a job as a dance instructor at a local club that will help her make $50 a week, she is thrilled. It could be just the thing that she and her family needs to make ends meet, particularly since they have fallen way behind on the rent and also their tabs at the neighborhood shops.

The new job turns out to be a doorway into an exciting life filled with beautiful dresses, no shortage of money, and any number of "fish" who are willing to not only pay her to dance, but also take her out to dinner after her shift and give her gifts. Unfortunately, for some of those men, those gifts come with an expectation for more than just a dance.

Things slowly start to spin out of control as she tries to balance the fibs she has been telling her mother, such as the one about her working as a telephone operator so her mom won't think her immoral, come face to face with the items she is bringing home and her blossoming romance with Paulie, whom her mother has a bad impression of.

The story is quick moving and really presents the feel of the time even as America shifts into a wartime lifestyle once the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The reader can easily understand why Ruby makes the decisions she makes, but one can't help but worry where they will lead as she heads further into the "taxi girl" lifestyle. This is definitely a winner!